Anonymous
Post 07/16/2025 00:10     Subject: Smart watches and camp
Anonymous wrote:I would check with the camp and point out the discrepancy between the policy and the practice. I would also observe if kids are wearing watches at drop off and pick up. Then you can decide if you want to return next year, based on the above.

It doesn’t really matter whether people here think a smart watch ban is good/bad. What do you want as a parent? Is the camp delivering what they promised?

My kid is at a six week sleep away camp. No devices, incl smart watches, allowed. Rigorously enforced. Parents are all in.

Could be harder to find a day camp with this policy and have it be enforced.



OP is not going to find any day camp that will not have watches. That is the reality. Kids could be in school mode during the day and then call if they get out early, for pick up, etc…. which is not unreasonable.

The camp is not able to enforce checking all kids watches. They just are not.

Sleepaway camp is a different animal. My DS goes to a 2 week and very strict with absolutely no screens. Enforced also and parents supported.
Anonymous
Post 07/15/2025 20:58     Subject: Smart watches and camp
Are they monitoring the child’s health? OP ask why there is a difference in their policies and their photos and see what they say…then make a decision.
Anonymous
Post 07/15/2025 17:42     Subject: Smart watches and camp
I would check with the camp and point out the discrepancy between the policy and the practice. I would also observe if kids are wearing watches at drop off and pick up. Then you can decide if you want to return next year, based on the above.

It doesn’t really matter whether people here think a smart watch ban is good/bad. What do you want as a parent? Is the camp delivering what they promised?

My kid is at a six week sleep away camp. No devices, incl smart watches, allowed. Rigorously enforced. Parents are all in.

Could be harder to find a day camp with this policy and have it be enforced.
Anonymous
Post 07/15/2025 17:40     Subject: Smart watches and camp
Anonymous wrote:
Anonymous wrote:
Anonymous wrote:Day camp or sleepaway?

At day camp, not a concern especially as it gives parents a way to coordinate with kids and could be in school mode during the day


Day camp and why wouldn't it be a concern? Do you think it should be up to the camp to policy the mode that all these watches are in?


As long as the kids aren’t playing on the watches, leave them be

Yeah, they're likely in school mode. Counselors will intervene if they're a problem.
Anonymous
Post 07/15/2025 17:36     Subject: Smart watches and camp
Anonymous wrote:
Anonymous wrote:
Anonymous wrote:
Anonymous wrote:Day camp or sleepaway?

At day camp, not a concern especially as it gives parents a way to coordinate with kids and could be in school mode during the day


Day camp and why wouldn't it be a concern? Do you think it should be up to the camp to policy the mode that all these watches are in?


As long as the kids aren’t playing on the watches, leave them be


And you think it should be up to police every watch on every wrist? Come on, the policy is clearly there for a reason and parents like me expect the policy to be followed and enforced. It was part of our consideration in choosing a camp - what was their device policy - and they are allowing parents to violate that policy.


you need to unclench. Your child is not going to be able to exist in a 100% tech free environment, and as kids get older, they will violate policies - intentionally or not.
Anonymous
Post 07/15/2025 17:36     Subject: Smart watches and camp
Anonymous wrote:
Anonymous wrote:
Anonymous wrote:Day camp or sleepaway?

At day camp, not a concern especially as it gives parents a way to coordinate with kids and could be in school mode during the day


Day camp and why wouldn't it be a concern? Do you think it should be up to the camp to policy the mode that all these watches are in?


NP here. I would have privacy concerns in a sleepaway camp where someone could be photographed sleeping and showering. I have zero concerns about day camp because those things are not happening and there is near constant supervision.


The kids change out of their bathing suits 2x a day.
Anonymous
Post 07/15/2025 17:34     Subject: Smart watches and camp
Anonymous wrote:
Anonymous wrote:Day camp or sleepaway?

At day camp, not a concern especially as it gives parents a way to coordinate with kids and could be in school mode during the day


Day camp and why wouldn't it be a concern? Do you think it should be up to the camp to policy the mode that all these watches are in?


NP here. I would have privacy concerns in a sleepaway camp where someone could be photographed sleeping and showering. I have zero concerns about day camp because those things are not happening and there is near constant supervision.
Anonymous
Post 07/15/2025 17:33     Subject: Smart watches and camp
Anonymous wrote:
Anonymous wrote:
Anonymous wrote:Day camp or sleepaway?

At day camp, not a concern especially as it gives parents a way to coordinate with kids and could be in school mode during the day


Day camp and why wouldn't it be a concern? Do you think it should be up to the camp to policy the mode that all these watches are in?


As long as the kids aren’t playing on the watches, leave them be


And you think it should be up to police every watch on every wrist? Come on, the policy is clearly there for a reason and parents like me expect the policy to be followed and enforced. It was part of our consideration in choosing a camp - what was their device policy - and they are allowing parents to violate that policy.
Anonymous
Post 07/15/2025 17:32     Subject: Smart watches and camp
Anonymous wrote:
Anonymous wrote:Day camp or sleepaway?

At day camp, not a concern especially as it gives parents a way to coordinate with kids and could be in school mode during the day


Day camp and why wouldn't it be a concern? Do you think it should be up to the camp to policy the mode that all these watches are in?


As long as the kids aren’t playing on the watches, leave them be
Anonymous
Post 07/15/2025 17:30     Subject: Smart watches and camp
Anonymous wrote:Day camp or sleepaway?

At day camp, not a concern especially as it gives parents a way to coordinate with kids and could be in school mode during the day


Day camp and why wouldn't it be a concern? Do you think it should be up to the camp to policy the mode that all these watches are in?
Anonymous
Post 07/15/2025 17:29     Subject: Smart watches and camp
Day camp or sleepaway?

At day camp, not a concern especially as it gives parents a way to coordinate with kids and could be in school mode during the day
Anonymous
Post 07/15/2025 17:29     Subject: Smart watches and camp
Good like finding a camp where zero percent of the kids over a certain age are wearing smart watches. I'm sure half the kids with them on have some type of screen time limit.
Anonymous
Post 07/15/2025 17:27     Subject: Smart watches and camp
Anonymous wrote:what is your concern?


Everything from as innocent as it being a distraction ranging all the way to violation of my DC's privacy.
Anonymous
Post 07/15/2025 17:22     Subject: Smart watches and camp
what is your concern?
Anonymous
Post 07/15/2025 17:20     Subject: Smart watches and camp
DC's camp has the following policy "Items‬ such as Apple Watches, handheld games, digital cameras, iPads, and cell‬‭ phones‬‭ are prohibited‬‭ during the camp day.‬" Now that DC is getting a bit older, when I look at the camp photos, I see kids wearing smart watches. This is effecting my decision on whether I want to send my DC next year, would you raise this to the camp or just make your decision based on the photos? FWIW this is our family's 5th year attending this camp.